Award Winning Jewelry Designer Brenda Smith
Recognized For Her “Light My Fire” Object d’Art
AGTA Spectrum Awards™ Announced July 25th
The American Gem Trade Association has announced the winners of the prestigious AGTA Spectrum Awards™. The competition was held in New York on July 23rd and 24th. Often referred to as the “Academy Awards of the Jewelry Industry”, the AGTA awards are regarded as the world’s preeminent colored gemstone and cultured pearl design competition.
As you can imagine Brenda was beside herself when she heard…she WON!
“I had put it out of my mind since I hadn’t heard anything….assuming the winners had already been announced. Then, I received the phone call from AGTA, you could’ve knocked me over with a feather. I immediately called my husband who had flowers awaiting my return home. What an honor!”
Objects of Art – Honorable Mention
Brenda Smith, Brenda Smith Jewelry – “Light My Fire” object of art – Opalized Wood (250 ctw.) with a hand-carved 75.0 ct. Sunstone flame, 40.0 ct. hand-carved Mexican fire Opal and Diamonds (.20 ctw.).
A true labor of love, “Light My Fire” was a step out of her comfort zone. With this piece you not only have a piece of custom designed jewelry but it becomes a miniature piece of sculpture when you aren’t wearing it.
Imagined by Brenda who was inspired by a stunning piece of Sunstone rough. Master Carver Darryl Alexander was commissioned to carve the Sunstone Flame and Mexican Fire Opal Embers.
“Light My Fire” is”:
-
Hand fabricated sterling silver and gold matchsticks linked to make a chain
-
Flaming Oregon Sunstone encircled in sterling silver with a .20ct diamond at the bottom where it sits atop the base, igniting the flame.
-
When removed from the chain the flame connects to the base of opalized and petrified logs. “Hot Coals” carved from Mexican Fire Opal which is backed by a flickering LED light under the oxidized copper “firebox”, creating a flickering flame effect.
From the carver, Darryl Alexander:
“AGTA spectrum award winner in the art object category by Brenda Smith. I mined the piece of Sunstone myself from the Dust Devil Mine, (Plush, Oregon) the piece lights up to look like a flickering fire inside the gem.“
The awards were chosen by a panel of prestigious judges: Gail Brett-Levine of National Association of Jewelry Appraisers; Diane Garmendia of 33 Jewels at El Paseo; Jay Mednikow of J.H. Mednikow & Co., Inc.; Victor Velyan of Victor-Christy Studios; and Lew Wackler of Lew Wackler Gem Co.
ABOUT BRENDA SMITH JEWELRYHighly unique, one-of-a-kind and custom jewelry in noble metals and gemstones by award-winning jewelry artist Brenda Smith. A former creative director and design teacher, now designing and fabricating fine, custom jewelry. Brenda has been published in Jewelry Artist, UK’s Gem and Jewellery, AGTA’s Prism, Canada’s Jewellery Business,” teacher at William holland School of Lapidary Arts and the Georgia Goldsmith’s Group. Multiple award winner of the prestigious International Pearl Design Competition by Cultured Pearl Association of America. She was commissioned to design pearl jewelry for their documentary film, “Circling the Pacific” by the Cultured Pearl Association of America. Her jewelry has been chosen by celebrity stylist, Michael O’Connor, to be worn in the Academy awards. But her greatest achievement may be the number of pieces in private and public collections around the world, including pieces in the Smithsonian Institution.
Website: http://www.brendasmithjewelry.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaSmithJewelry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BSmithJewelry
ABOUT AGTA SPECTRUM AWARDS
The American Gem Trade Association is a not‐for‐profit Association serving the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry since 1981. The AGTA serves the industry as “The Authority in Color” and has its headquarter office in Dallas, Texas.
Website : http://www.agta.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGTASpectrumAwards
Robyn Hawk
Latest posts by Robyn Hawk (see all)
- BrilliAnt®, the 8th edition of the ADTF, Goes International - August 13, 2016
- AGTA Spectrum Awards™ "Platinum Honors" Winnners #AGTA15 - August 11, 2016
- YES! an #Olympic #Jewelry Story! It Happened In The Pool #JewelryMoment - August 9, 2016
